Leighton and others -v- Secretary of State for Justice

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionTransmission Direction Order

Case number: KB-2024-002975

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

10 July 2026

Before:

Mr Justice Morris

Between:

(1) WAYNE LEIGHTON
(2) NATALIE HARPER
(3) SAMANTHA MANSBRIDGE
(4) SARAH HARTLEY
(5) CRAIG JACKSON
(6) STEVEN LEWIS-EVANS
(7) JANINE JOHNSON

-v-

Secretary of State for Justice

Order

OF THE COURT’S OWN MOTION

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. Any request for a direction under s.85A(3)(b) of the Courts Act 2003 (“a transmission direction request”) by a person not taking part in the proceedings (“an applicant”) for permission to watch or listen the hearing of the above proceedings on 21 July 2026 must be made by 10am on Friday 17 July 2026.
  2. Any transmission direction request should be sent by email to the King’s Bench Listing Office at KBTransmissionRequests@justice.gov.uk and must include the following:
    a. The full name of the applicant;
    b. The email address of the applicant;
    c. Whether the applicant would be located within the jurisdiction of England and Wales at all times when attending the proceedings remotely (if a transmission direction were to be made); and, if not, details of the applicant’s location;
    d. Any information the applicant wishes to provide in support of the request, including in particular any reason(s) why it is contended that making such a direction would be in the interests of justice; and
    e. A statement made by the applicant in the following terms:
    “If permitted to attend the hearing remotely, I understand and undertake to the Court that I will not make a recording, capture images, and/or broadcast any part of the proceedings. I understand that to do so would be an offence and may be a contempt of court, and that I may be punished if I were to do so. I will abide by any directions given to me by the Court during the hearing. I agree and undertake to the Court that I will not provide the link I am given to access the hearing to any other person.”
  3. Unless exceptionally the Court otherwise directs, a transmission direction request made otherwise than in accordance with this Order will not be granted

Reasons

This case concerns the enforcement of liability orders made by Magistrates in respect of unpaid council tax. The Claimants seek declarations as to the construction and application of legislation governing the conditions for entry into premises by enforcement agents for the purposes to taking control of goods in satisfaction of liability orders. The case potentially raises issues of general application across the country.

This case has already attracted the attention of members of the public. At the last hearing of the case, there were multiple requests for remote attendance. The case may attract similar attention when the hearing resumes on 21 July 2026. Accordingly this Order is made to ensure that any transmission direct requests are made in a timely manner to enable them to be considered and determined prior to the hearing and to ensure that any such requests are accompanied by the necessary information.

Late requests, because they cause disruption to the Court’s work and utilise a disproportionate amount of the Court’s limited resources are likely to be refused, unless there are compelling reasons why the applicant was unable to comply with the Court’s directions